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sponge cloth

sponge cloth

3.2
A soft cloth that soaks up water for cleaning and drying surfaces
  • noun
  • /spʌndʒ klɔθ/
translation icon : trapo de esponja
  • She used a sponge cloth to wipe the spilled juice off the kitchen counter.

Examples

  • A sponge cloth works well for absorbing water and drying dishes.

  • Make sure to rinse out the sponge cloth after cleaning the bathroom sink.

  • I need a new sponge cloth for the kitchen.

  • These sponge cloths are perfect for cleaning windows.

  • A sponge cloth works well for absorbing water and drying dishes.

  • Make sure to rinse out the sponge cloth after cleaning the bathroom sink.

  • She used a sponge cloth to wipe the spilled juice off the kitchen counter.

Synonyms

towel
vssponge cloth
565 1.0

A piece of cloth or paper used to dry people and objects

is a woven porous fabric with a honeycomb weave mainly for cleaning
cloth
vssponge cloth
215 1.0

A piece of material made by joining threads together and used for making clothes or for cleaning

is a specific soft porous honeycomb fabric meant mainly for cleaning surfaces
sponge
vssponge cloth
77 1.0

A soft object with many small holes used to clean and absorb liquid

is a woven soft porous fabric, not a loose solid cleaning material
paper towel
vssponge cloth
66 1.0

A disposable paper sheet that soaks up water to dry hands or clean spills

is a woven porous fabric able to absorb and scrub without tearing
wipe
vssponge cloth
35 1.0

A small piece of soft material used for cleaning skin or surfaces

is a reusable woven porous cloth rather than a disposable sheet
washcloth
vssponge cloth
  • US
22 1.0

A small square cloth to wash your face and body

is a woven honeycomb fabric used for wiping surfaces not for bathing
towelette
vssponge cloth
  • US
8 3.9

A small disposable moist cloth or paper for cleaning hands and surfaces

is a woven porous fabric for larger cleaning tasks and reuse
hand towel
vssponge cloth
7 1.0

A small towel for drying your hands or face

is a soft porous fabric for wiping and cleaning a variety of surfaces
dish towel
vssponge cloth
  • US
6 1.0

A cloth used to dry dishes after they are washed

is a porous honeycomb woven cloth meant for cleaning or wiping surfaces
bath towel
vssponge cloth
4 1.0

A large cloth that dries your body after a bath or shower

is a smaller porous woven fabric used for wiping many surfaces
cheesecloth
vssponge cloth
4 5.2

A thin cotton cloth with loose threads used to strain food or wrap herbs

is a softer finer honeycomb woven fabric made for wiping and absorbing
microfiber
vssponge cloth
  • US
4 3.7

A very thin artificial thread or a cloth made from such threads

is a soft porous honeycomb fabric rather than a fine synthetic fiber
wet wipe
vssponge cloth
3 1.3

A small soft disposable cloth made slightly wet to clean skin or surfaces

is a dry woven porous fabric intended for repeated use
flannel
vssponge cloth
  • UK
3 1.9

A small soft cloth used for washing the face or body

is a porous honeycomb fabric intended for surface cleaning rather than bathing
terrycloth
vssponge cloth
3 3.9

A thick, absorbent cotton fabric used for towels and bathrobes

has a loose honeycomb weave that is thinner and more open than looped cloth
dishcloth
vssponge cloth
2 1.0

A cloth used to wash and dry dishes

is used more broadly on many surfaces beyond dishwashing
tea towel
vssponge cloth
  • UK
2 1.0

A cloth for drying washed dishes and cutlery

is a soft porous honeycomb fabric used directly for cleaning and wiping
cleaning cloth
vssponge cloth
1 1.0

A small piece of soft material used to wipe surfaces and remove dirt or oil

is a soft porous honeycomb weave fabric rather than a plain cloth
loufah sponge
vssponge cloth
  • UK
1 6.3

A natural pad of dried plant fibers from a luffa fruit used for washing skin or dishes

is a woven porous fabric, gentler and not a plant skeleton
toweling
vssponge cloth
  • US
1 2.5

Soft cotton or linen cloth with small loops that soaks up water

has a loose honeycomb weave that is thinner and more porous than loops
face cloth
vssponge cloth
  • UK
1 1.0

A small soft towel you use to wash your face or body

is a porous woven fabric made for cleaning surfaces not personal washing
paper toweling
vssponge cloth
1 2.4

Paper that soaks up water, made in sheets or rolls for drying hands and cleaning spills

is a woven porous fabric used wet or dry and meant for reuse
wiping cloth
vssponge cloth
2.1

A piece of cloth for cleaning grease, oil, or dirt in workshops

is a soft porous honeycomb fabric suited to general household wiping
dustcloth
vssponge cloth
1.0

A soft cloth used to remove dust from furniture

is designed to absorb liquids and scrub rather than only dust
terry towel
vssponge cloth
1.6

A towel made of thick cloth with many small loops that soaks up water

is a thinner honeycomb woven fabric for cleaning surfaces rather than bathing

How Absorbent

chamois
3 9.1
microfiber
  • US
4 3.7
sponge cloth
3.2
dish towel
  • US
6 1.0

Surface Forms

sponge cloth singular
sponge cloths plural

Morphology

sponge + cloth

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'sponge' (a porous cleaning material) with 'cloth' (a textile): it denotes a cloth with sponge-like absorbency used for cleaning. This simple noun+noun compositional pattern is regular in English and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The compound noun sponge cloth comes from the words sponge and cloth. It is a cloth made to act like a sponge, with many small holes that 'soak up' water, so it means a soft fabric used for 'cleaning' and drying.